Fresh Brownies: Training camp scare

Hue Jackson hopeful but not sure about Myles Garrett's status after a practice spill. A Pittsburgh coach compares his WRs to Cleveland's old Webster Slaughter group.

Steve Doerschuk CantonRep.com sports writer @sdoerschukREP

1, NERVOUS TIME WITH MYLES GARRETT

The Browns were unable to get through their three-day minicamp without a scare.

No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett stayed down on the field after taking a spill during a pass rush, then limped to the sideline on his own power.

After the incident during Wednesday's practice, Hue Jackson said Garrett appeared to have hurt his left foot. Jackson said he thinks Garrett will be "fine," but he also said he needed to hear more from the medical staff.

Jackson noted that Garrett has until late July (training camp) to heal, presuming the injury is not major.

2, JACKSON PROMOTES GUESSING GAME

Hue Jackson says he'd like to name a No. 1 quarterback before the final preseason game, but he reserved the right to make the call at any time.

Veteran Brock Osweiler clearly wants to be "the guy" and arguably has looked better than the competition lately.

“I feel like I have had a good camp," Osweiler said Wednesday. "No one is going to study the tape and be more critical of themselves than myself.

"I’m always going to study it very hard and be very realistic with myself. I’m very happy with things, but there is plenty of room to grow."

3, PITTSBURGH TALKING UP RECEIVERS

While the Browns are piecing together a receiving corps whose only man with any real NFL resume is Kenny Britt, Pittsburgh receivers coach Richard Mann is wiping his eyes.

“I don’t know if I’ve had this much depth,” Mann told Pennsylvania writers after a minicamp practice. “I was in Cleveland for a long time. I had three guys (Webster Slaughter, Reggie Langhorne, Brian Brennan) for six years. That was a good group. They all had their own little things they did well. This group is a little deeper."

The wideout group includes Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, Sammie Coates, Darrius Heyward-Bey and second-round pick Juju Smith-Schuster. The Browns will open their season against Pittsburgh on Sept. 10.

4, BRYANT vs. GORDON

Bryant is back from being suspended for the 2016 season. In a 2015 game against the Browns, he made six catches for 174 yards.

Bryant's suspensions (including a four-gamer to start the 2015 season) have been a headache for his team, and a reason for Browns fans to wonder why he has been reinstated while Josh Gordon has not.

He could be a problem for opponents in 2016. In his most recent game, against the Broncos on Jan. 17, 2016, he caught nine passes for 152 yards. In a playoff game at Cincinnati a week earlier, his touchdown was one of the big plays in an 18-16 win.

Bryant was a No. 114 overall pick in 2014. The Browns are hoping to get something out of the 114th pick of the 2016 draft, Ricardo Louis.

5, JOE THOMAS: BOSA'S INSPIRATION

Joe Thomas and Joey Bosa have founded a mutual admiration society.

After the Browns won Game 15 last December, Thomas called Bosa "the most polished rookie pass rusher I have ever seen."

Recently, Bosa said Thomas is the one player who drove home the message that he has a long way to go before being able to get the best of the best left tackles.

Thomas and Bosa are scheduled to go at it in San Diego on Dec. 3, a day before Thomas' 33rd birthday.

6, YOUNG AND YOUNGER

Bosa is still one of the younger players in the league. He will turn 22 on July 11.

The youngest Brown is rookie tight end David Njoku, who will turn 21 on July 10.

7, KESSLER'S ASSESSMENT

Second-year pro Cody Kessler says "way ahead mentally and physically" of where he was in spring practice last year.

The quarterback described "the coolest part" of recent weeks.

"It's how well our defense is playing," he said. "It really does help you out as a quarterback and as an offense."

Reach Steve at 330-580-8347 or steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com

On twitter: @sdoerschukREP

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